More Than Ever, Videos Expose the Truth. And Cloud It, Too.

NYT Homepage

by Charles Homans

February 15, 2026

AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary

In a paradoxical era where videos both illuminate and obscure the truth, recent events highlight their dual role as tools of exposure and deception. In Minneapolis, bystander footage revealed the federal government’s misleading account of two fatal shootings, leading to political backlash and undermining official narratives. Meanwhile, an AI-generated video featuring Brad Pitt stirred controversy by showcasing how advanced technology can create convincingly realistic content, raising concerns about the credibility of visual evidence in a world increasingly saturated with such tools. The article delves into how these developments intersect with broader societal trends. While real-world videos continue to expose wrongdoing and challenge authority, new technologies like AI video generation threaten to erode trust in visual evidence. For instance, Rauiri Robinson’s use of Seedance 2.0—a Chinese-made tool—to create a hyper-realistic fight scene between Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt sparked fear among Hollywood professionals, with some questioning the future of storytelling in an era of indistinguishable AI-generated content. The implications extend beyond entertainment to journalism and accountability. As AI tools become more accessible, the line between authentic documentation and fabricated narratives grows increasingly blurred. This raises critical questions about how society can verify truth in a world where visual evidence—once considered objective—is now vulnerable to manipulation. The balance between leveraging technology for transparency and guarding against its potential for misuse becomes a pressing challenge for media, politics, and beyond. Ultimately, the article underscores the urgent need to navigate this complex landscape. While videos remain powerful tools for exposing truths, their credibility is at risk from emerging technologies that blur the boundaries of reality and fiction. This matters deeply to readers interested in news, as it challenges how we understand and trust information in a rapidly evolving media environment.

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Originally published on NYT Homepage on 2/15/2026